Atlas Gym [Thursday, omigod early o'clock]

[sith_happened]

Anakin had gotten used to catching catnaps between Juliet's feedings--it wasn't much different than life in the Clone Wars.

Yes, he was mentally comparing life with a newborn to a war. He wouldn't be sharing that with Rory, no.

So he was waiting in the gym, lighsaber hilt in his right hand, asleep standing up as he killed time before Ben arrived.

Comments

Lighsaber dueling!

[sith_happened]

Where Ben will ping in.

Re: Lighsaber dueling!

[momslilassassin]

Ben trotted into the gym a few moments later. "Morning," he said, nodding carefully. "How's the baby?"

Re: Lighsaber dueling!

[sith_happened]

"Perfect," Anakin replied, smiling a little. "She's sleeping almost two hours at a time now."

Re: Lighsaber dueling!

[momslilassassin]

Ben didn't reply "me too." He was up to almost four hours these days. "If you're too tired to do this," he said instead, eyes sparkling with challenge.

Re: Lighsaber dueling!

[sith_happened]

In reply, Anakin stalked to the center of the mat and ignited his blade, then gave Ben a little "well?" look.

Re: Lighsaber dueling!

[momslilassassin]

Ben grinned, dropped his cloak into a completely overdramatic puddle of cloth on the floor behind him, then launched immediately into a flying jump at his grandfather.

He didn't think he had a shot in hell, but he might as well look interesting before he got schooled.

Re: Lighsaber dueling!

[sith_happened]

Anakin's lightsaber reflected in his eyes as he batted away the attack without pausing.

His feet hadn't moved.

"Flashy," he commented, lightsaber slashing toward Ben's stomach. "Work on your defense more. You're wide open."

Re: Lighsaber dueling!

[momslilassassin]

Ben's lightsaber flashed down smoothly to intercept, and he pushed against the hilt, trying to get Anakin to step back.

"I was ready," he replied.

Lightsaber duel watching!

[sith_happened]

If you are so inclined...

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[glacial_queen]

Karla slipped in, eager to watch the fight. She was also trying hard not to grin, thinking of some of the conversations she'd had with Ben about his grandfather. Her irreverent expression was at odds with her wardrobe choice. Even though this was simply a practice, she'd decided to treat it as if it were a tournement.

It was a subtle gesture of respect towards Ben, not that she'd ever admit it aloud. A moderately uncomfortable gesture. Mother Night, she couldn't wait to change.

"Greetings again, my Lord," she said, dropping a curtsey to Anakin. It was as precise and exact as her mother's Steward could have asked, for a Warlord Prince of a Dark Jewel rank who was also an instructor. "My warmest congratulations on the birth of" she snuck a glance at Ben, "your daughter. I hope she and your ladywife are well."

"Ben," she added, giving him a nod. She dimpled at him. "Good luck." The 'you'll need it' went unstated.

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[sith_happened]

Anakin inclined his head gravely. "I'll pass along your well wishes."

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[glacial_queen]

"My thanks, my Lord." Karla replied, just as gravely.

She'd 'my Lord' him to Hell and back before she'd ever say 'Master.'

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[sith_happened]

The muscles in Anakin's jaw clenched. "Professor is fine," he said.

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[glacial_queen]

"As you will, Professor," she said. "'My Lord' is simply the custom of my people. I'd meant no offense."

She'd seen the jaw clench.

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[sith_happened]

He'd been "my Lord" in a different lifetime. He didn't like the claustrophobic, hate-filled memories the title brought up. "No offense taken," he said, "but I'm no lord."

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[glacial_queen]

"In Kaeleer, it is offered more as a gesture of respect, than as acknowledgement of birth," she explained, "but I will refrain if you prefer."

She dropped her more formal mode of address to add, "Because pissing you off is a rather lousy way of trying to show you respect, huh?" The corners of her mouth quirked a bit.

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[endsthegame]

Ender didn't normally have a lot of interest in what Ben got up to while he was fighting. But after the strangeness of last week, it seemed like a good time to come in and make an appearance and laugh at his friend once he got himself beaten up: banter things, social tricks. He'd already been up for several hours by the time he arrived, but that didn't mean much.

He did stick to the wall - being too up and front about it would just make Ben think he'd lost it.

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[momslilassassin]

Ben's entire face lit up when he saw Ender and he gave him a quick grin and a wave.

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[endsthegame]

Ender nodded back at him, and lifted one eyebrow. His mouth did quirk with a little bit of a smile at the enthusiasm.

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[glacial_queen]

Karla sidled over to Ender. "Kiss kiss," she greeted. "Come to see the lightsabers? Or watched Ben get trounced?" She paused, weighing him. "Actually, you're a multitasker. Both, right?"

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[endsthegame]

"Both," Ender agreed, shooting her an amused look. It was a lie; he was here mostly for a third thing, but that didn't mean he couldn't show some appreciation for the latter half of her assumptions. "He doesn't spend enough time face-down in the mud."

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[glacial_queen]

"And he did laugh at you remorselessly for the glitter shower," Karla pointed out with a grin. Of course, she had too, but she saw no reason to mention that. "Have you watched them before?"

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[endsthegame]

"I think I'm made of sturdy enough stuff to stand him laughing at me," Ender replied. "Especially since I can still probably beat him at chess, and I've seen one too many of his gremlin bites."

He stole another look at them both. "No."

Re: Lightsaber duel watching!

[glacial_queen]

"I don't know about you, but I'm impressed," she said, watching the flash of their lightsabers. "They are very fast, but very sure." Anakin was clearly the better of the two, but Ben seemed to be doing fairly well.

OOC

[sith_happened]

Yes, I have a problem. Shush.